No matter the venue, there is always a new sports story to tell, and the SportZone team found several worth sharing.
The Fighter By Jessika Ward
Willie Ferrell has been fighting for years.
He is a heavyweight boxer who has racked up several accolades in the last years. He was the 2013 and 2014 U.S. Intercollegiate Boxing Association’s heavyweight champion, and he has also won many matches in this year alone.
But once he steps outside of the ring, his fighting is not over. In 2013, Ferrell found a new reason to fight.
On September 14, 2013, his brother, Jonathan Ferrell, was shot and killed by police officer Randall Kerrick in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ferrell had just been in a car accident and wondered into a nearby neighborhood for help. A resident called the police on Ferrell because she thought he looked suspicious. When the police arrived, Ferrell ran toward them. That is when Kerrick opened fire on Ferrell, shooting him ten times. Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter.
After losing his brother, Willie Ferrell created a foundation that helps bring justice to families who lost loved ones to police brutality.
Ferrell says he plans to continue fighting for his brother, inside and outside the ring.
Heads Up By Kayla Parker and Anjelicia Bruton
It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and some parents are concerned it may be their children that fall victim to injury while playing football.
After many former players sued the NFL regarding concussions, head injury talk has made its way through the sports world. While concussions have severe effects on adults, those effects are even greater on children whose bodies are still developing. Several concussions at a young age can lead to irreversible effects on their adult bodies.
Some young players ignore injuries due to their love of the game, but doctors are saying that injuries like concussions should not be overlooked.
The Kaepernick Effect By Ashley Jackson
Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem in a preseason NFL game, and, as they say, the rest is history.
One action caused an overwhelming response that has lead to some athletes losing endorsement deals, some coaches losing jobs, and many players questioning their own loyalties.
The Kaepernick effect trickled down from the NFL into small cities and towns. In Tallahassee, athletes and coaches are standing with Kaepernick, even if it means putting their livelihood on the line.